Lunds & Byerlys to shut down all its pharmacies at short notice

In a surprise announcement that went public on Thursday, the Twin Cities grocery store chain said its pharmacy operations has incurred "significant losses."

Giving customers just a few days' notice, L&B said its 14 in-store pharmacies will close on Tuesday, with customers' prescription files transferred to nearby Walgreens locations starting Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, it has become increasingly difficult for retail pharmacies given a number of economic challenges within the industry," the company said in a statement.

"As a result, we have continued to incur significant losses in our pharmacy operations, and it is no longer feasible to continue offering this service.

"We are currently developing plans to remodel our pharmacies so we can provide our customers with even more product offerings."

Lunds & Byerlys pharmacies are mostly located in the western Twin Cities, with locations including two in Edina, and others in Northeast Minneapolis, Highland Park St. Paul, Plymouth, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Maple Grove, Eagan, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Richfield, and St. Louis Park.

FOX 9 reports that 27 pharmacy manager and staff pharmacists will be affected by the Lunds & Byerlys closures, though they will be able to interview with Walgreens for open positions.

The company's pharmacy technicians have been offered other roles within Lunds & Byerlys.